I'm trying to boost my knowledge with winter time fishing as most of my previous fishing experience has been in the summer months.

What do y'all throw in the fall and winter and what types of areas do y'all target. I know strategy might change depending on weather conditions.

Big trout will go super shallow on a sunny winter day. They’ll murder a big topwater.

Cloudy days the sand eel or corky gets the job done.

Really cold will suck the trout in the rivers and deep canals. 3/4 oz rattletrap is a secret weapon.

Pat, is anything run the surf this time of year? What about the jetties in wintertime?

Thanks Pat. I'm hoping to get down there next week.

This was a few years ago but mid December low 40’s. Put in at Lavaca River at Lolita. Maybe an hour for a couple nice limits. They’ll pile up in the Victoria barge canal turning basin the same way.

Or in the guts between the oyster reefs at steamboat.

Winter fish are my favorite. When you’re in them it doesn’t take long to take care of business.

Here's kind of the basic rundown on winter tactics and what to look for.

First, be prepared for lower water conditions, when the North/Northwest wind gets going, it'll push the water out of most of the bays. S/SE wind will push it back. This may change your navigation routes to where you want to be.

When it's overcast, low sky winter day, I'm looking for clearer water, moving current is a bonus. Shell reefs off the intercoastal, or the middle of a larger back lake are two first look type places. Suspending/slower worked baits *usually* are the ticket, so your suspending corkys, sand eel, or redfin type twitch baits get the first calls.

Now what confuses the heck out of guys that grew up bass fishing, is the opposite scenario. Clear, big sun day the trout/reds will get so shallow their backs will nearly come out of the water. This will happen over mud/grass areas that are calm. You'll usually see some manner of activity taking place, I generally won't stop unless I see some baitfish moving around or pelicans being active.

That's where your topwater can just wreck some genuine trophy trout.

Thanks Pat. As far as teef fishing, do you find more success at the reef ends, the side the sun is on or is every reef different and you just have to locate the sweet spot?

Usually the ends.
Which then depends on current, if there's a current then the down current side.
There's so many oyster reefs here that I'll cruise by and only stop at the ones with some manner of activity.

Which would always include pelicans.

really nice info
Pat knows